Public Bill Committee

[Mr. Greg Pope in the Chair]

Greg Pope: I should like to make two announcements. First, I remind Members that adequate notice should be given of amendments. As a general rule, I do not intend to call starred amendments.
Secondly, Members may be aware that a money resolution is required to be agreed by the House before the provisions of the Bill that impose a charge on public funds can be considered by the Committee. Such a motion stands on the Order Paper under future business, but it has not yet been agreed to by the House. Clause 1 would impose a charge on public funds, and the other effective clause, clause 2, is dependent on it. Therefore, I am bound by the rules that govern financial procedure to decline to propose the question on clauses 1 and 2 and the amendments thereto.
In these circumstances, I advise the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Graham Stringer) move the Adjournment of the Committee and then the sittings motion on the amendment paper to allow time for the House to agree to the money resolution.

Graham Stringer: I beg to move,
That the Committee do now adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. Pope. After that precise and excellent advice, I have moved the motion in spite the fact that it would be good to debate this excellent Bill under your commanding chairmanship.

Owen Paterson: It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Pope, for what might be fairly brief deliberations, and thank you for your clarification. May I ask whether it is correct that, once the money resolution has been passed by the House, it will be appropriate to table amendments and that they must be tabled on the Friday before Wednesday 11 July, the date proposed in the sittings motion?

Greg Pope: That is correct, but amendments can be tabled as of now.

Question put and agreed to.

Graham Stringer: I beg to move,
That, if proceedings on the Off-Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill are not completed at this day’s sitting, the Committee do meet on Wednesday 11th July at 9.30 a.m. and thereafter on Wednesdays at 9.30 a.m. when the House is sitting.
 I want to say two or three sentences. Although I anticipate that the House will agree to the money resolution in the fairly immediate future, I have chosen 11 July as the next sitting date, because we are all waiting with great anticipation for the new Government that the Chancellor will put together, and I am sure that we all wish my hon. Friend the Minister every success in what is likely to be an interesting reshuffle. Even though I think that he got it wrong on the Bill on Second Reading, he is a very assiduous and hard-working Minister. However, given that discussions will have to take place between myself and my hon. Friend, if he is not promoted, it is sensible for the information of the Committee if we wait until 11 July before we return to discuss the Bill.

Question put and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at thirty-three minutes past Nine o’clock till Wednesday 11 July at half-past Nine o’clock.